Counting of the Omer - Week 3

Guest Author - Lisa Pinkus

During the third week of the Omer, we enter the sefirot of Tiferet or compassion. This is a week of truly trying to identify with the feelings of others. Compassion allows us to take empathy a step further by creating a desire for action – a need to do something to help.

Below are my thoughts on this week’s Sefirot combinations.

Chesed in Tiferet (loving-kindness in compassion): Today, focus on genuine compassion. Take time to slow down and make sure you respond to people with sincerity. It's the perfect time to focus on strengthening your empathy for others.

Gevurah in Tiferet (discipline in compassion): Consider starting a morning meditation routine focusing on compassion. Or, pick a daily practice that assists the development of your own compassion. Try volunteering at a hospital where you can visit children undergoing treatment for cancer.

Tiferet in Tiferet (compassion in compassion): Try to put yourself in the shoes of others today. Understand your child’s tantrums from a new point of view. Accept your spouse’s bad habit(s) from a new light. Be compassionated with your Self.

Netzach in Tiferet (endurance in compassion): What do you need to do to make sure you are giving everyone 100%? Are you overcommitted? Are you able to provide reliable compassion?

Hod in Tiferet (splendor in compassion): Play mysterious mitzvah. Do something special for someone in your office, for a teacher at school, for everyone in your family. Do it without needing the recognition or the thank you.

Yesod in Tiferet (bonding in compassion): Commit as a family to help at a soup kitchen once a month. Create special family time while showing compassion for others.

Malchut in Tiferet (dignity in compassion): “Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; you feed him for a lifetime.” Find a way to teach your child how to fish. Identify a trait you believe is important to carry a person through life and identify specific things you can do to help teach this trait to your child.